Sunshine Matters

The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has announced that it will recognize VISIT FLORIDA with Gold, Silver and Bronze Adrian Awards for advertising and digital marketing excellence for its winning entries in the 54th annual Adrian Awards Competition, the largest and most prestigious travel marketing competition globally. The HSMAI Adrian Awards honor “creative brilliance and best practices” in hospitality, travel and tourism-related marketing. 

VISIT FLORIDA was selected by HSMAI to receive a Bronze Adrian Award for our instate “Share a Little Sunshine” integrated marketing campaign, a Silver Adrian Award for our national “Florida Live” integrated marketing response to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and a Gold Adrian Award for our national “Your Florida Side” advertising campaign.

HSMAI intends to recognize VISIT FLORIDA during the annual Adrian Awards Gala, a black-tie affair attended by more than 1,000 hospitality, travel and tourism marketing executives, on January 31, 2011, at the New York Marriott Marquis.  According to HSMAI, this year’s contest attracted nearly 1,100 entries from around the world, with entries judged by top executives from all sectors of the industry.

“The quality of the entries submitted in this year’s HSMAI Adrian Awards competition was truly outstanding,” said Fran Brasseux, HSMAI executive vice president. “This year’s winners represent the most inspiring examples of travel advertising, public relations and digital marketing. We look forward to sharing this great work with the industry at the Adrian Awards Gala.”

This has been an extraordinarily challenging year for the tourism industry in the Sunshine State. I am extremely proud of the VISIT FLORIDA team, whose creativity and innovation have resulted in three remarkable campaigns being recognized by our tourism marketing peers at HSMAI.